Adnan Januzaj, right, was the victim of an horrific stamp at Fulham (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Manchester United manager David Moyes claims Adnan Januzaj is not getting enough protection from referees following the horror stamp he suffered at Fulham.

Cottagers defender Sascha Riether has been hit with a Football Association violent-conduct charge over the incident.

Januzaj was fortunate not be injured by Riether, and Moyes is worried more dangerous lunges will be coming the Belgian teenager’s way in future.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Champions League trip to Real Sociedad, Moyes said: ‘I hadn’t seen it [Riether’s stamp] until after the game, the view from the dugout made it impossible to see, but it’s a bad stamp and it does look deliberate.

‘It’s over now but I do think Adnan is going to need a little bit more protection or we are going to find he is getting kicked up and down.

‘I do think he deserves a little bit more than he is getting at this time.’

And Moyes wants the 18-year-old, who has been a revelation for United this term, to learn how to deal with the rough treatment from Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The Scot added: ‘We have spoken to him about it. I have got to say he gets kicked up and down in training every day and gets on with it. He’s learned from the good professionals that he’s got to get on with it.

‘He only needs to look at Lionel Messi who is probably the best in the world at getting kicked, getting up and getting on with it and continuing to produce magic all the time.

‘I’m not in any way comparing Adnan to Lionel Messi, so don’t be saying that, but I’m certainly saying the way Lionel Messi gets up after being kicked, we hope that’s the way Adnan continues to behave too.

‘But he does need a little bit of protection. Somewhere along the line if he is going to continue playing in the fashion and style we want he’ll need to get protection. It’s up to referees to do what they think is right.’